Hydraulic casing perforator



May 23, 1933. R, .Moss Er A1,910,851

HYDRAULIC cAsING PERFORATOR Filed May 5. 1931 2 sheetshwc 2 5/ l ZZ l 34 )FZ5-gt4 6 .55 l l I 44 l l 47 49 l 45 \j /1 57 l *I /5 58 4f v f/ i/ 'r v ,cl-I .20 'Irn 55 37 Z6 i .50 L

ParentedlMay z3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEl'cE BOSCOE MOSS AND HAROLD U. BAKER, OF LOS ANGELES, OALIFORNIIA, ASSIGNORS TO noscoE Moss coureur, or :romeu LOB ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- HYDBA'ULIC OASING` PEBFOBATOB Application med lay 5, 1981. Serial No. 535,188.

Our inventionrelates to devices adapted for operation within tubular members, andl relates particularly to a hydraulically actuated device of this character whichA may be employed to perforate Ithe wall of a' tubular member, such as a well casing.

For the purpose of perforating'the liner' or drill casing within a well, peforating devices are emplo ed havingcutters which are forced outwar ly through the cylindrical wall of the tubular member forming the liner or casing. Owing to the extremely heavy force which must be employed to force the cutter or tool through the wall of the tubularmember, the-tubular member is often deformed or made egg-shaped so that it is afterward difficult to place other well members or devices, such as pumps or screens, within the tubular-members which have been "deformed as a result of the perforating operation.

Gur invention comprehends a perforating device which will accomplish perforation of a tubular member from the interior thereof,

= with a minimum distortion of such tubular member. The invention alsocomprehends a simple form of hydraulically actuated means for forcing the'tools, suchy as perforating cutters, outwardly`through an operating engagement with he tubular member and for subsequently re racting the 'tools so that the "perforator may be moved to another position of operation. "'In the preferred form of lthis `invention the control of the lvdraulically actuated means is accomplishe throu h a member which extends to the exterior o the tubular member, such as to a point above the upper end of the well structure.

It is an object ofthe invention to provide a perforator having a body adapted to be suspended and substantially centralized within a tubular memberof the character above described, a pluiality of cutters movably supported in spaced circular arrangement, and simple, powerful, and effective hydraulic means for usefully operating the cutters.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a perforator of the above character having a fluid line extendingtherefrom to a point of pressure fluid supply, and a control means associated with the perforator for controlling the inward and outward movement of the cutters.

A further object of the invention is to provide' the above set forth control means inthe form of a simple valve having connected thereto a art extendin to the surface of the ground, W ereby the vave may be actuated to control the introduction of fluid'under pressure to the hydraulic cutter operting means whereby to selectively produce projection and retraction of the cutters.

A further object of the invention 'is to provide a perforator of simple and rugged construction which may be economically manu-v pluralit of projectable cutters, there being' means or normally holding the cutters in retracted position.

Further objects and advantages of the iny vention will be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a view, partly vertically sectioned,

showing a preferred embodiment yof our invention in a tubular member, such as welll casing, to be perforated. v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section on a plane represented by the lines 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is-an enlarged, verticallysectioned viewon a plane represented by the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section on a. lane represented by the line ,4 4 of Fig. 1, s owing a simple form of lcylinder and lpiston mechanism which may be satisfactorily emthreads 26. The rear en ployed as part of the cutter actuating mechanism of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the cylinder-piston mechanism may be connected in series with the control valve.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, this preferred embodiment of our invention employs a body 10 consisting of a luralit of radially extending vanes or we s 11 w ich are of such radial dimension that their outer edges or faces 12 define a circle slightly smaller than the interior of a well casing or tubular member 13 in which the perforat-or is inserted for the purpose of perforating a cylindrical wall thereo The upper and lower ends 14 and 15 of the vanes 11 are sloped so as to define cones, and the vupper and lower ends of the -vanes join with axially extending upper and lower` bosses 16 and 17.

In the form of the invention'shown, twelve ofthe vanes 11 are employed. Formed in the 'body integral with the vanes 11 adjacent thereto are a plurality of cylinders 26, 21, 22, 23,24, and 25, these cylinders being positioned one below the other, as best shown in Fig. 1, and each cylinder having a length substan tially as great as the diameter of the body 10. The front end of each cylinder wall-20 to 25 is equipped with threads 26, as shown in Fig. 4, to receive an externally threaded, removable front plate 27, and each front plate 27 has an external flange 28 of vertically oval shape whereby to reduce the lateral dimension thereof and to provide opposing flat faces 30 which may be engaged by a wrench to screw or unscrew said late 27 from said of each cylinder has a closed rear wall 31 comprising a radially lnwardly extending annular shoulder 32 having a shoulderv opening 33 in which a plug 34 is set. The wall member 27 has an inwardly extending hub 35 provided with a recess 36 for holding packing 37 and having a gland 38 threaded therein for the purpose of compressing the packin 37. Extending within or through an axial bore 40 in the member 27 is a bar 41 having a diametrally reduced inner portion 42 on which a piston 43 is secured by means of a nut 44. The piston 43 may be made in any recognized form, butin this embodimentv of our invention we employ a central annular member 45 against which cup washers 46 and 47 are held by means of end plates 48'and 49, there being, if desired, a lock washer 50 between the end plate 49 'and the .nut 44.

The outer or front end of the bar 41 is provided with a transverse slot 53 adapted 6 to receive a tool 54 which in the present embodiment of our invention consists of a pfforating blade or cutter of alloy. steel.

e tool 54. is held in operative position in Yamthenslotor recess 53 by a transverse pin,

screw, or bolt'55f" The piston 43- divides the cylinder into a rear chamber 56 and a front chamber 57. By introducing fluid under pressure into thel rear chamber 56, the piston 43 is impelled outwardly so as to lcause the bar 41 to carry the tool 54 into operative engagement with the wall of the tubular member 13 and to cause the tool 54 to perforate-the member 13, as indicated by dotted lines 58. By forcing fluid under pressure into the front chamber 57 and releasing the fluid from the rear chamber 56, the piston may be caused to move inwardly and retract the tool 54 from extended position to the withdrawn position in which itis shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

Associated with the body 11, and secured thereto by means of a threaded connecting member 60, is a valve body 61 having a threaded inlet opening 62, as shown in Fig. 3, into which the lower end of a string of pipe 63 may be threaded. In the leftwardly offset portion 64 of the body 61 is a vertical bore 65 having a perforated plug 66 threaded into the lower end thereof and being adapted to'slidably receive a valve piston 67.v The upper end of the bore 65 is counterborcd and threaded, as indicated at 68. to receive a threaded double-end connector to which an upwardly extending tube 71 is secured, this tube having a, bored plug 72 threaded into the upper end thereof. A valve stem 73 extends upwardly from the valve piston 67 through the members 70, 71, and 72, and has a ring 74 formed at its upper end to which an actuating part in the form of a rope 75 may be secured. An annular late or shoulder member 76 is secured intermediately on v the valve stem 73 by means of a pin 77, and a compression spring 78 is placed between the plug 72 and the plate 76 so as to normally exert a downward pressure on the plate 76, which pressure is transmitted through the pin 77to the valve stem 73 and tendsto resiliently hold the valve piston 67 in the lowered position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. From the inlet opening 62 a fluid inlet passage 80 extends downwardly and then turns leftwardly, as indicated at 81, to communicate with the bore 65. Abovethe portion 81 -of the inlet passage 80 is an expanding Huid passage 82 which turns rearwardly, as indicated at 83 in Fig. 3. Below the p ortion 81 of the inlet passage 80 is a retractmg fluid passage 84 which turns forwardly, as indicated at 85 in Fig. 2. From the outer end of the retracting fluid passage 84, as

shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, aluid transfer front chamber 57 of the cylinder 20, and, as best shown in Fig. v5, intercommumcatlng pipes 87 extend between the forward ends of' 4pipe 86 extends to communicationwith the y l the cylinders 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 and v lare in open communication with the lfront the rear ends-of the cylinders 20, 21, 22,y 23,

24, and 25, intercommunicating pipes 91 are extended, these pipes being in open communication with the rear chambers 56 in the cylinders which they interconnect. The pipes 86, 87, 88, and 91 are secured in place by having their ends welded into the openings provided therefor, in the manner shown at 92 in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the valve iston 67 has an open space 93 therein of suihcient length to interconnect either the passages 80 and 84 or the passages 80 and 82. When no upward pull is exerted on l the rope 65 and the spring 78 holds the valve piston 67 in its lowered position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the space or 'passa 93 connects the inlet passage 80with 't e passage 84 so that fluid under pressure delivered through the pipe 63, by which the perforator is also suspended in the tubular member 13, will be directed from the passage 80 through the space 93, the passage v84, and the transfer pipe 86, into the front chamberI 57 of the upper cylinder *20. This fluid is also conductedl through the ilitercommunieating pipes 87 into the front chambers 5 7 of each and all of the cylinders 21 to 25, thereby exerting against the front faces of the pistons 43 a pressure which will move the istons into retracted position, as shown in fu l lines in Figs. 4 and 5, and there hold-V them. During this time, the expanding'passage 82, which communicates with' the rear chambers 56 of the cylinders 'through pipes' 88 and 9,1, is connected through the upper'portio'n 95 of the bore and an outletpassage 96 with the exterior of the valve body 61, thus permitting fluid to flow freely from the rear chambersv 56 of the cylinders as the istons 43 are moved .toward retracted positlon.

In the operation of the device, the body is lowered by means of the pi ,Y 63 to a desired osition within the tubu ar member 13. luid under pressure is then introduced through the ipe 63, and, by an upward pull on the rope 7) 5 the valve'p1ston'6 is moved into raised position, as indicated by dotted lines 98, thuscausing the space 93 to connect the inlet passage 80 with the passage 82, whereupon fluid under pressure will iiow through the passage 82 and the transfer pipe `88 into the rear chamber 56 of the upper cylinder 20 and then through the intercommunicatin pipes 91 to the rear chambers 56 of the cylinders-21 to`25, the pressure of this fluid `withi-:ntthe rear chambers 56 exerting a force against the rear faces of the piston 43 and operating or im elling them 'outwardly so as to movethe per orating tools 54 into en a ement and through the. wall of the tu ar therefore, it is to be When the piston 67 is held in raised position, the lowerend thereof, as indicated by dotted lines 100, is above the mouth of the passage84, thus placing the passage 84 in open communication with the exterior through the lower portion 101 of the bore 65 and a. relief assage 102 in the perforated plug 66, there permitting Huid to be discharged from the front chambers 57 of the cylinders 20 to 25 through the pipes 87 and 86 when the pistons 43 are impelled outwardfluid pressure in the rear chambers 56 of t e cylinders. f Y l On completion of this perforating action, the rope is lowered so as to permit the spring 78 to carry the-valve piston 67 into lowered position to again connect the Ainlet passa e with the retracting passage `84 where y to introduce fluid under pressure to the frontchambers 57 ofthe cylinders so as to cause the retraction of the pistons 43 and ythe tools 54 connected thereto and actuated The arrows A,'B, C, D, E, and respectively indicate the lines along which the cylinders 20,21, 22, 23,24, and 25 guide or direct the pistons 43; bars 41, and tools 54 respectively associated therewith. Therefore, it will be seen that the six tools 54 have outward movement along lines spaced at substantially equal angles so that the forces exerted by such tools when they are in engagement with the tubular member 13 are distributed in such a manner that the tubular member 13 will 'not be deformed to oval shape as a result of the perforating operation.-

Although we have herein shown and described our invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or vand F areJ shown. The angles between these elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish i substantially the same results;

understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

We claim as our invention: v

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a body adapted to be inserted in a tubular member; a tool movably supported on said body so as to move to and from engagement with said tubular member;

hydraulically actuated means for `forcing said tool into operative engagement with said tubular member and movlng said tool from ven agement with said tubular member; a

fluid delivery member for conducting fluid under pressure to said hydraulically actuated means; and valve means adjacent said hydraulically actuated means and connecting said fluid delivery member therewith, for deterrlnining the direction of movement of said too 2. In a device. of the character described, the combination of: a body adapted to be inserted in a tubular member; a tool movably` draulically: actuated means and connecting said fluid delivery member therewith, for determining the direction of movement of said tool, said control means havin an actuating part extending outside said tu ular melnber.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a body adapted to be inserted in a tubular member, said body havin!! a wall formin va cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; a too operatively connected to said piston; means for holding said body in a desired position of operation in said tubular member, there being a fluid passage extendin from said cylinder to the exterior of said tu ular member; and valve means sltuated in proximity to said body and associated with the lower part of said passage for controlling the flow of fluid to said cylinder.

4. Ina device of the character described, the combination of: a body adapted to be inserted in a .tubular member, said body having' a wall. formin a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; a too operatively connected to said piston; means for holding said body in a desired position of operation in said tubular member, there being a fluid passa extendin4 from said cylinder to the exterior of said.

tu ular member; valve means situated in proximity to said bod .and associated with the lower part of sai passage for controlling the flow of fluid to said, cylinder; and an actuating part extending from said valve means to the exterior of saidtubular member, for actuating said valve means in a manner to accomplish control of the flow of fluid through said passage.

5. In a perforator of the character de scribed, the combination of: a body adapted to be inserted in a tubular member, said body having a plurality of cylinders pointin radially outwardly at su stantially'equa angles; a piston m each ofl said cylinders; a

. by the perforatin tool associated with each of said pistons an adapted to be moved into operative engagement with said tubular member lston with which it is associated; means or holding said body in a desired position of operation in said tubular member, there bein a single fluid passage extending to said cy inders from a point outside said tubular member for carrying a fluid under pressure; and valve means situated in proximity to said body and associated with said passa e for controlling .the flow of fluid theret rough.

`6. In a perforator of the character described, the combination of: a body adapted to be inserted in a tubular member, said body having -ra cylinder; a piston in said c linder; means for supporting said body witliin said tubular member; a perorating to'ol associated with said piston and adapted to be moved into operative engagement with said tubular member by the piston; walls forming passages connectin with the front and rear ends of said cylin er; a four-Way valve adjacent said body, said four-way valve being connected to said passages; and a duct exaoA tending from the exterior of said tubular member for delivering fluid under pressure to said four-wa valve.

7. In a per orator of the character described, the combination of: a body adapted to`be inserted in a tubular member, 'said body having a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; means for sup orting said body within said tubular mem r; a perforating tool associated with said piston and adapted to be moved into operative engagement with said tubular member by the piston; walls forming passages connecting with the front and rear ends of said cylinder; a four-way valve adjacent said bod said four-way valve bein connected to sai passages; a duct extendmg from'the exterior of said tubular member for delivering fluid under pressure to said four-Way valve; and actuating means for said valve. l

8. In a perforator of the character described, the combination of: a body adapted to be inserted'in a tubular member, said body having a cylinder; a piston in said c linder; means for supporting said body wit in said tubular member; a perforating tool associated with said piston and adapted to be v moved into operative engagement with said tubular member by the piston; walls forming passages connecting with the front and rear ends of said cylinder; a four-way valve 4adjacent said body, said four-way valve being connected to said passages; a duct extending from the exterior of said tubular` member for delivering fluid under pressure to said four-way valve; and an actuatin member for said valve extending from sai valve to the end of said tubular member.

9. A perforator of the character described,

ineludin a body adapted to be inserted in a wel easing; means for supporting said body in a desired positionsin said well easing; a fluid expansible member carried by said body; a tool operatively connected to said expansible member; a fluid delivery member extending from the exterior of said well easing to said body; a valve at said body for connecting said delivery member to said cxpansble member; means extending from said valve to the end of said casing for op erating said valve to deliver fluid to said exl pansible member whereby said tool is forced into engagement with said casing; and means for retracting said Vtool when said valve is returned to inoperative condition. a

10. A perforator of the character described, including: a body adapted to be inserted in a well easing; means for supporting said body in a desired position in said well casing; a iuid expansible member carried by said body; a tool operatively connected to said expansible member; a fluid delivery member extending from the exterior of said well casing to said body; a valve at said bod for c nnectingsaid delivery member to sald expansible member ;l means for operating said valve to deliver fluid to said expansible member whereby said tool is forced into engagement with said casing; and means v for retracting said tool when said valve is re-l turned to inoperative condition.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this- 27th day of April. 1931.

ROSCOE MOSS. HAROLD U. BAKER. 

